Geocacher said:I'm afraid that Dr. John Briffa isn't considered a credible source of information... neither are the infamous Dr. Oz or Dr. Mercola.
Statins for primary prevention have a stratospherically higher NNT. Sixty people would have to take a statin for five years for one to avoid a heart attack; 60 is the NNT for avoiding this outcome. And 268 people without heart disease would need to take a statin for five years for one person to be saved from a stroke; 268 is therefore the NNT for avoiding this outcome, explains Dr. David Newman of Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, who maintains an NNT database at thennt.com.
You can gauge your risk of having a heart attack in the next 10 years by visiting hp2010.nhlbihin.net/atpiii/calculator.asp.
The National Cholesterol Education Program calculator cited above can also be used to show why lowering cholesterol, as statins indisputably do, fails to make much difference in whether or not you will develop cardiovascular disease. After you’ve typed in your actual cholesterol, blood pressure, and other data, notice what happens if you change the cholesterol: In many cases, it alters the risk of a heart attack by little or nothing. A 55-year-old non-smoking woman with total cholesterol of 240 (high enough to make most physicians prescribe a statin), HDL (good cholesterol) of 50 (which is quite low), and systolic blood pressure of 110 has a 1 percent chance of having a heart attack over the next decade, for instance. Now change her total cholesterol to 190—a huge decline. Her risk is still 1 percent. A 65-year-old man with those first numbers has an 11 percent chance of having a heart attack over the next decade; lowering his cholesterol to 190 brings that down to 9 percent.
In other words, cholesterol levels are not as strongly predictive of cardiovascular disease as once thought. “This has shocked everyone,” says Newman. “Cholesterol levels are actually a fairly weak predictor of who will have a heart attack.”
You know this doctor personally, do you? I suppose you must, if you know his primary, and only interest is so disreputable.Geocacher said:Dr. Briffa and the Saturday Evening Post?
A self-proclaimed nutritionist who's primary interest is in selling his books and supplements, and a tabloid newspaper.
...... particularly the opinions of those like Dr. Briffa who's only interest is in getting people to give him their money. ...
Yesterday it was Dr. Mercola, who seems now to have lost some favour, today it's Dr. Briffa, who will it be tomorrow?
Disgruntled said:What a shock it was, quite incredible that a doctor who has taken an oath not to cause harm to anyone would prescribe this "medication" to everyone of 50 years plus.
Perhaps this is to give those who don't have health problems, a few :twisted: :twisted:Yorksman said:Disgruntled said:What a shock it was, quite incredible that a doctor who has taken an oath not to cause harm to anyone would prescribe this "medication" to everyone of 50 years plus.
Professor Rory Collins claims that everyone over the age of 50 should take statins regardless of whether they have any health problems.
Luna21 said:I take statins (Simvastatin 40mg) as does my Mum
Luna21 said:Disgrunted, I can totally accept what you are saying - statins aren't perhaps for everyone, so be it, especially if your hubby is one of those who has suffered adverse reactions.
However, that's not to say that they don't help others, but I'm afraid I'm not going to spend hours collating evidence.
I must admit I probably would query why I needed statins too in your case. My own doctor is very happy to explain, and discuss my medication with me, so I assume, wrongly, I suppose, that every doctor does the same. She always gives me time to do my own research, then I go back armed with some knowledge and a better knowledge of what I can expect.
Every forum has those who are totally against one thing or another, but although I do believe in giving your perspective on things, it is the totally negative bias I find hard to understand on this thread, and I wanted to give the opposite view, that's all.
Yorksman, the car analogy is a good one. 8) Again I think doctors are either overworked, too stressed, or dare I even suggest it, too lazy to try and find the best medications for their patients in some cases.....I feel very lucky that mine listens to me on the few occasions I see her, as I tend to avoid doctors if I possibly can.
stuffedolive said:Since refusing to take statins I have seen a number of doctors at the surgery. Most try to persuade me back on. One recommended Benecol drink - the lowest sugar version is a 1.2g hit :-( but it takes the cholesterol level down by upto 1 percent. An Asian doctor recommended garlic (which has some scientific basis) at least a whole clove a day - don't chew, chop and swallow!
I fully expect to get caned at my next review in 3 weeks as my last Cholesterol was 6.2 and I've low carbing/highfatting since then. However, the HDL/LDL ratios were good last time as was the triglycerides, so here's hoping....